The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday re-arraigned former Minister of Power and Steel, Dr. Olu Agunloye, over alleged irregularities in the award of the Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station contract.
Agunloye was brought before Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja, on an amended seven-count charge bordering on disobedience to a presidential directive, forgery, and receiving gratification.
At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel M. K. Hussain, standing in for Abba Muhammed, SAN, informed the court that the prosecution had filed a second amended charge against Agunloye and requested that he take his plea. Counsel to the defendant, Adeola Adedipe, SAN, raised no objection. The charges were read to Agunloye, who pleaded not guilty.
The EFCC alleged that on May 22, 2003, Agunloye knowingly disobeyed a presidential directive issued at the Federal Executive Council meeting of May 21, 2003, and went on to sign a letter to Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (SPTCL) granting government approval for the 3,960MW Mambila Hydroelectric Power Station project.
The commission further accused Agunloye of conspiring with Leno Adesanya, now at large, to forge the letter conveying the approval. It also alleged that Agunloye received a total of N5.2 million in 2019 from SPTCL and Adesanya through an intermediary, Jide Abiodun Sotirin, paid into his GTBank account, as gratification for the approval.
Agunloye has repeatedly maintained his innocence.
Following the plea, Hussain informed the court that the third prosecution witness (PW3), Umar Hussein Babangida, was absent and asked for the previously fixed hearing dates of September 22 and 25 to be vacated.
Justice Onwuegbuzie adjourned the case to October 9 for the cross-examination of PW3.
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